ThePeopleAlchemist Edit: What does YOUR self-image look like? - Be your best self - #SmashYourCeiling, change starts from within -Business & Lifestyle Experimentation for #TheWomanAlchemist

Don’t you just love self-reflection? Hello everyone and welcome back! Just over two months ago, I spoke about smashing your glass ceiling and building your success with your self-image as your guide. Looking back, or self-reflecting, as we are so doing this month, I have covered self-image in detail. We looked at building a positive self-image through a positive body image as well as through a financial self-image. Let us not forget about building a positive and professional self-image in your career. However, this blog post is not about repeating those lessons – even though repetition is key to achievement when working on oneself. This blog post is about you, the self-image that you have created so far, and how much further there is to go.

Your current self-image

As we glance onto our inner mirror, we are looking at our present state and not (yet) what we envision ourselves to be. Self-reflection is about being honest with ourselves. It is about putting aside those rose-coloured glasses – as stunning as they may be – and really looking at where we are. If we feel that we may not have actively worked on our self-image, then that is okay. We can start now and ‘turn over a new leaf’, as the saying goes. As long as we know that we want to achieve something – it can be anything at all. Whether it is a better work-life balance, better lifestyle, or better career – the list is endless and specific to you. Self-reflection is about seeing the gaps and taking responsibility for them. It is a lesson that lends itself to self-image, too – so what are your gaps, and what are you doing about them? There are two significant steps to take our inaction and turn it into action. Before we get into them, we must understand that if we are not taking action, then acceptance would be to know if we really want what we say we do. But, on the other hand, if we want what we claim, what is really stopping us from acting? See why self-reflection is so vital? The steps, likewise, are as follows: The first step is, of course, as mentioned above, acceptance. It is acceptance of not just oneself but the situation at large. If we have worked on our self-image and see the difference, then well done – that’s huge. But, the journey doesn’t end there – we still have much more work to do. In order to determine how much more we need to do, and the onus is on us to get it done to smash our glass ceilings. We must look not just at our self-image but the concept of self as a whole. We will speak of this further in our blogs to come. For now, for some additional reading on the concept of self, you may want to read this article. With that said, I know that self-reflection can be tough – but that is also why it is necessary. The second step is never giving up – you may feel that your progress is not amounting to much, but that is exactly what makes even the marginal and smallest changes worthy of celebration. So, please take a moment and look at your self-image, reflect on it, and acknowledge your self-image as you would an old friend. Be open to celebrate progress as personal growth is a one-step-at-a-time journey. Remember steps one and two, as understanding where you are is extremely important in moving forward. Happy reflecting! Until next time x